Grand Opening for New Section of National Scenic Trail

August 30, 2016

A new bridge extends the North Country National Scenic Trail in Copper Falls State Park.

The Grand Opening for new section of National Scenic Trail will happen September 24th in Northern Wisconsin.
A new 5 mile segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail will officially open Saturday, September 24th at Copper Falls State Park near Mellen. A celebration with hikes, speakers, and other trail activities will introduce the public to the new trail segment, as well as to the volunteer efforts to build America’s longest hiking trail across its 4,600 mile route from New York to North Dakota.
Activities begin at 9 AM with a guided 8 mile hike on the new trail. At 1 PM, the grand opening ceremony will feature remarks by Mark Weaver, Superintendent of the North Country National Scenic Trail for the National Park Service. Also speaking are Wisconsin trail coordinator Bill Menke and Michael Stafford, president of the North Country Trail Association’s Heritage Chapter. Immediately following the ceremony, participants can join a 1.2 mile hike to the Bad River Overlook on the new trail segment.September 24th is North Country Trail Day along the route of the trail, a day when the chapters of the North Country Trail Association celebrate the trail and their year’s accomplishments in building and maintaining it. It will also be Art in the Park Day at Copper Falls State Park, with creative activities for children and adults.As a trail of the National Park Service, the North Country National Scenic Trail is a place where you can Find Your Park and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Park Service. The day’s hikes count toward the Hike 100 Challenge on the trail; visit www.northcountrytrail.org/hike100challenge for more details.
The day’s events are free of charge, as is State Park admission at Copper Falls on September 24th. The dedication events are sponsored by the North Country Trail Association’s Heritage Chapter. For more information, visit www.northcountrytrail.org/htg, email htg@northcountrytrail.org, or call 906-932-5181.